South African football's governing body has moved swiftly to shut down claims that Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos made racist or sexist comments, insisting his words were taken out of context and distorted online, Cape town Etc reports.
The controversy erupted after Broos publicly criticised the conduct of a national team player who arrived late for camp, as well as the role played by the player's agent in pushing for an overseas move. What began as a firm footballing reprimand quickly escalated on social media, with accusations levelled at the Belgian coach's character rather than his message.
SAFA says the narrative that followed bears little resemblance to what was actually said or intended, stressing that Broos was addressing professionalism, discipline and player management, not race or gender. The association also pointed to language nuances during the press interaction, suggesting that some of the coach's frustration was lost in translation and later amplified into something far more serious.
